Meet the Blogger!

DEVIN KIDNER

Ever since I can remember I have had a passion for people; travelling; arts and culture and food.

At an early age I enjoyed acting and public speaking, and found that big crowds did not make me nervous. I took meeting people very seriously and, as my Mom can attest, would strike up conversations with anyone who would pay attention - I do the same to this day!

Since I have dual-citisenship (UK and USA), and because my Dad is English and half of our family resides in England, I had the pleasure of travelling around Europe at an early age. As a kid, France was my favourite country and I enjoyed the long, hot afternoons spent at my grandparents’ place in Cozes.

Thanks for the perm, Grandma!

In high school I ran cross country and track, and joined the debate team. My life became debate and I was lucky enough to have an amazing coach, team and partner, all of which made high school thoroughly enjoyable. Toward the end of my high school career, I applied to many universities but chose to go to Wake Forest University in North Carolina, the same university my Dad went to when he moved to the States to pursue an American law degree.

My senior picture in high school

College life was great, but I soon became restless and felt stifled by my surroundings. I quickly learned that I craved the anonymity and excitement of big city life and found that Wake Forest’s gated campus more like a prison than a safe, down-home Southern community. Passing by the same people and buildings everyday did not give me warm and fuzzy feelings; it bored me. I packed up and headed to London to study in the Spring of 2006 and then to Japan in the Autumn of 2006.

At this point in my university career, I was desperate to become an Art History major. My courses in London were arts and culture heavy and there was no short supply of museums to fuel my passion. Long days were spent at Tate Modern in the J.M.W. Turner wing, at the Victoria and Albert museum and at the Tate Britain in the Hogarth room.

Also while in London, I decided to chop off all of my hair, as you can see to the picture on the left. I told the hairstylist I wanted “trendy,” which, little did I know, means really, really short. After having the same hairstyle (bangs and over-the-shoulder length) for the past 15 years, I decided it was time for a change.

In Japan, I took classes in marketing, advertising and design. Classes was challenging and interesting, and I adored every minute of them. I loved attending Apple Pro Talks on design and see creative people work with new media in ways. The energy in the new media and design field was intoxicating and I have dedicated a lot of time to exploring both ever since.

Dressed as a maiko in Japan

Back in the States and back at Wake for my final year, I had a huge change of heart. I had met a sociology professor in my first year who was absolutely brilliant and after taking another class from him, I set my heart on the subject and studied it with intense fervour for my remaining time. My other major and minor, communications and women and gender studies (respectively), jibed perfectly with this new major and I loved the theoretical frameworks, case studies and the quantitative analysis that consumed my life as I worked on my thesis.

I loved my professors, classmates and everything sociology had to offer and was intent on graduating from Wake and continuing my studies until I left for London once again in the summer of 2007. This time, I left to work for BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and was hired back to the company as an employee after six short weeks of interning.

My 21st bday in London!

At the BBC, I worked with the press and media outlets, thoroughly enjoying my very busy days. Upon returning to the States and Wake, I worked for NPR’s affiliate station, WFDD and spent long hours redesigning press packets and organising Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me events.

In the autumn of 2007, I raised my hand in a class to volunteer to show “some local guy” doing “some local documentary” around the Wake Forest campus and unwittingly landed myself a position in the making of the feature film, The 5th Quarter, directed by Rick Bieber. The last year at Wake was pretty much a blur. As Rick’s right-hand and connection to Wake Forest, I attended important meetings with casting directors, Wake faculty, associate producers, producers, the family being portrayed in the movie, actors, and eventually an entire crew of amazing movie-makers.

My first day on a movie set!

By the time I graduated, Rick had promised me a full-time spot on the movie crew, which I excitedly took. The whole summer I enthusiastically did whatever was asked of me.

The movie went into pre-production in August, when I was asked by one of the executive producers if I would like to be the Assistant Location Manager. My duties were to be equal parts ridiculously organised and ridiculously charming: sweet-talking potential problem-makers into complying with the rather noisy and invasive movie crew.

I gladly accepted the position.

Graduation 2008

Not more than a few weeks later, I replaced the then Location Manager and became the head of the Location Department on the movie. I have never been so overwhelmed and yet so wildly satisfied with a job. It was tough, but in the end, it was worth it. The crew I worked with was fantastic, and I learned so much from everyone.

After movie production ended, I headed to Chicago in January 2009 to pursue my Masters in Journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern. In December of 2009 I graduated, and I now proudly work for a law firm in downtown Chicago!

I had never even seen Chicago before January 2009, but was already in love with the city upon my arrival.

There was no banner over the door to welcome me to my new flat, but somehow, I already felt at home. Now, after a year and a half of living in the Windy City I can safely say that it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I love Chicago.

The gals and me at a 4th of July party in 2010!

Dev xx